Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Dog Days: How to Dress for the Hottest Months of Summer

As you are fully aware, we are about to enter into August, the hottest month of summer in many parts of the country. There are those nights where even after the sun goes down, you are still sweltering in 85+ degrees, wishing you had a fresh shirt on hand. But with a few key items in your late summer wardrobe, you can say goodbye to discomfort and hello to embracing the heat. Because you know come December, you’ll be wishing you hadn’t complained as you bundle up to face the cold. Check out our guide below so you can stop sweating and start savoring.

Recommended Videos

Related: Tabor Made’s Dark/Summer Elevates Casual Clothing

Tank Top
Before you freak out and claim you would never wear such a thing, hear us out. There is a time and place for a tank top, and you do have the right to bare arms if you follow a few guidelines. This is a good area in which to use common sense. For example, tank tops at the beach and outdoor concerts: good. Tank tops in the office, a restaurant that doesn’t provide lobster bibs or a wedding: bad. Buy something with a relaxed fit but not so big you’re swimming in it either. We love how the neutral, simple Melange Tank Top from H&M goes with everything from denim to khaki shorts.

Shorts
Sure this is a no-brainer, but not all shorts are created equal. We know you have the essentials on hand already, but what about a pair that can literally take you from ocean to tiki bar? That’s right, staying cool and looking good at the shore doesn’t need to mean a wardrobe change in musty beach bathrooms. Just grab a pair of shorts like Selby’s Chambrays, throw on a t-shirt (or tank hint, hint) and you’re ready to go.

Sunglasses
Nothing is more uncomfortable than a morning, afternoon or evening squinting into the blazing sun. Not only is it not a good look, UV rays are harming your eyes. As much as we wear sunglasses to accessorize, they serve a much bigger purpose than blocking out the haters. How about a pair that looks fly, protects your eyes, and are good for the environment. These Earth Wood Coronado sunglasses are made from fully recycled and biodegradable wood and feature anti-fog measures, so you’ll be seeing clear without all the wiping.

Hat
You might be thinking, but what about hat hair? You would be wrong to worry.  Aside from the possibility of a few tangles in your tresses, a hat is perhaps the most functional accessory in a man’s summer wardrobe.  A wearable shield against sun, wind, and whatever else the season can throw at you, this Straw Puritan hat by Topman is the perfect top-off to a stylish summer outfit.

Shoes
We’re sorry (not sorry) to be the ones to break the news to you, fellas, but no one wants to see your rugged man feet in a skimpy pair of sandals. But a closed-toe shoe mustn’t mean a sweaty foot either. There are plenty of options out there that both look stylish and keep you cool. We’re sure you have a pair of canvas sneakers or even a classic boat shoe, both of which we 100% support as summer footwear. But we really dig these Rivieras Cotton Mesh Slip-Ons, designed to be both lightweight and good looking.

Related: The 5 Best Stylish Sandals for Summer

Updated 07/19/2016 by Chase McPeak

Amanda Gabriele
Amanda Gabriele is a food and travel writer at The Manual and the former senior editor at Supercall. She can’t live without…
Topics
These new cherry Dr. Martens loafers are turning heads this season
Dr. Martens releases a new loafer
man tying cherry red loafers

For UK-based Dr. Martens, creating a timeless shoe that’s both street-style ready and sleek is no foreign task. Among the most recognizable designs in the business, Dr. Martens has certainly left its mark on fashion. Now, the brand is taking its overt coolness to the next level with a new hue for its iconic loafers. While the brand is mainly recognized for its lace-up boots, its loafer lineup doesn’t fall far behind. The Adrian Loafer model is considered their shining star, with plenty of iterations that’ll elevate your regular loafers into a runway-ready pick. And now with a new hue, these Dr. Martens loafers are far from your basic run-of-the-mill footwear choice. 

Conquer the streets with the Adrian Arcadia Leather Tassel Loafer

Read more
The Nike x Levi’s collab just dropped sleek new denim sneakers
Nike and Levi's reveal their newest denim sneakers
nike blue denim sneakers levi's

When Nike and Levi’s join forces, you know you are going to be treated to a flurry of high-quality and highly stylish denim designs, and their newest collaboration is no exception. Along with a matching apparel collection, Nike and Levi’s have officially announced their latest footwear releases that bring the luxury and casualness of denim to your favorite Nike sneaker. While the denim material certainly takes center stage, the overall design of the three new sneakers brings a deconstructed touch to the shoe, making it more modern and edgy than before. Arriving in three new colorways, this sneaker collaboration, previously teased in May, is now set to hit stores. Although denim sneakers are no new trend, this collaborative design is certainly one to keep your eye on this summer season. 

Levi’s and Nike take on the Air Max 95

Read more
Adidas and Mercedes-AMG F1 launch Silver Arrows fanwear collection before British Grand Prix
The Silver Arrow collection is on sale worldwide at select Adidas retailers and the Adidas website.
F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli wearing Mercedes fan wear with a Mercedes-Benz W196 racecar.

Working with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, Adidas launched the Silver Arrow pack, a collection of fanwear inspired by the Mercedes-Benz W196 race car. Current Mercedes F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli posed with items from the Silver Arrow collection along with professional models.
Why celebrate the W196?

The W196 wasn't the first Silver Arrow. The first Mercedes to be called a Silver Arrow was the Mercedes W25, which debuted in 1934. However, driver Juan Fangio won the 1954 and 1955 F1 World Championships with the W196, which was among the several models referred to by the group name. The Adidas Silver Arrow collection celebrates the 70th anniversary of the W196's first F1 Championship season.

Read more